The book 'Morris W Travers: Scientist and Pioneer', edited by David MC Travers and John R Ainslie, would not have come to life but for IISc's centenary celebrations.Divya Shekhar | ET Bureau | February 20, 2017, 06:57 IST

In November 1906, a 34-year-old chemistry professor from Britain came to Bengaluru to take charge of the yet-to-be-founded Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the brainchild of industrialist Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata.

Morris Travers' life and experiences during his brief, eight-year stint in Bengaluru ­ jotted down in diaries is now an autobiography, edited by his grandsons and published by the IISc. Till recently, the notes and diaries were at the University College of London, from where Travers graduated in organic chemistry in 1893.

The book 'Morris W Travers: Scientist and Pioneer', edited by David MC Travers and John R Ainslie, would not have come to life but for IISc's centenary celebrations.

“Travers' family was unaware of his legacy. Only when we invited his grandsons to be part of IISc's centenary celebrations in 2009, did they approach the UCL to access the documents, get copyrights and edit it for publication,“ said P Balaram, former director of IISc.

The scientist's precise observations offer nuggets about the past.“For instance, there is an interesting first-person account of the coronation of King George V in 1911, and notes about train journeys across India,“ Balaram said.

The book talks about Travers salary of £1,800 per annum, his initial stay at the West End hotel, and how he inspected the construction of the IISc riding on his horse, Peter Pan. He later moved to No. 1, Cunningham Road and paid a rent of Rs 90 during his initial two years of stay. He was also the first president of the Mythic Society, which was formed in 1909.

Travers ­ who was recommended for the director's post by Nobel laureate William Ramsay ­ was responsible for the foundation work of IISc's library block (presently,the main building) in 1908.

He started the four initial departments, namely: general, organic chemistry, applied chemistry and electrical technology . He found and appointed professors to these departments.

Travers' stint ended abruptly in 1914, when he resigned following disagreements with the institute's governing council.

An exhibition containing a detailed account of Travers' tenure at IISc, along with old photos, letters and newspaper clippings, has been curated by Sowmithri Ranganathan, consultant, archives and publications cell of IISc.

“He was the first to introduce book-binding at IISc in 1909 and he personally designed the bookshelves in the library ,“ she said.“Travers laid the groundwork for the Institute Journal, and his paper on Borohydrides was published in 1914 in the first issue.“

Travers returned to England in 1914, resumed scientific work after World War I, and continued to stay in touch with IISc faculty till his death in 1961. The autobiography will be released on Monday (February 20) by historian Ramachandra Guha.